An actuator for controlling the movement of an element between two stable positions with pulsed electrical control without a change in polarity comprises: a ferromagnetic mobile mass, at least one electrically controlled wire coil that is fixed with respect to the mobile mass, at least two ferromagnetic poles that are fixed with respect to the mobile mass and on either side of the mobile mass. The actuator comprises at least one permanent magnet that attracts the mobile mass in order to achieve the two stable positions. The mobile mass defines, with the ferromagnetic poles, at least two variable air gaps during the movement of the mobile apparatus. The magnetic flux of the permanent magnet opposes the magnetic flux generated by the at least one coil regardless of the position of the mobile mass.

Methods and apparatuses for connecting multiple loads with a common return pin in engine control module application are disclosed. Only one of the multiple loads can be connected to a power source at a time. At the high side, each load is coupled to the power source through a respective pin at a connector. At the low side, the multiple loads share a common return pin at the connector that connects the loads to the ground. When a first load is connected to the power source at the high side, a first low side driver circuit is used to connect the first load to the ground at the low side. When a second load is connected to the power source at the high side, the second low side driver circuit is used to connect the second load to the ground at the low side.

The present disclosure provides a coil driving device comprising: an input voltage sensing unit for sensing an input voltage; a switch unit configured to make a switching operation to supply a driving current to a coil; a PWM circuit unit for outputting a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal for the switching operation of the switch unit; an impedance adjustment unit for varying an impedance value such that the PWM signal is adjusted, thereby limiting the driving current; and a control unit for causing the impedance adjustment unit to vary the impedance value on the basis of the input voltage, thereby adjusting at least one of the duty ratio of the PWM signal and the frequency thereof.

The invention relates to a method for detecting a hardware configuration of an on-board device in an aircraft, capable of receiving as input a setpoint current (Ic), and of producing as output a response current (I), the method comprising the following steps: a) Send, to the input of the device, a setpoint current (Ic) at a given time (t.sub.0); b) Measure one or more values of the response current (I) at the output of the device in a measurement-time interval defined between two instants (t.sub.1 and t.sub.2) after the initial instant (t.sub.0); c) Infer the hardware configuration of the device, doing so from one or more values of the response current (I) measured.

A method for determining the position of an armature of an electromagnet, a method for determining the position of a valve member of an electromagnetically actuated fluid valve, and a fluid system comprising an electromagnetically actuated fluid valve and an electronic control unit executing the method for determining the position of a valve member are provided. The electronic control unit applies a current profile in the coil of a non-actuated electromagnet that is substantially below a minimum actuation current of the electromagnet. By applying the current profile, the electronic control unit determines a characteristic profile of the electromagnet. A position characteristic of the electromagnet is calculated based on the position characteristic.

An actuator for controlling the movement of an element between two stable positions with pulsed electrical control without a change in polarity comprises: a ferromagnetic mobile mass, at least one electrically controlled wire coil that is fixed with respect to the mobile mass, at least two ferromagnetic poles that are fixed with respect to the mobile mass and on either side of the mobile mass. The actuator comprises at least one permanent magnet that attracts the mobile mass in order to achieve the two stable positions. The mobile mass defines, with the ferromagnetic poles, at least two variable air gaps during the movement of the mobile apparatus. The magnetic flux of the permanent magnet opposes the magnetic flux generated by the at least one coil regardless of the position of the mobile mass.

A solenoid assembly includes a solenoid having a coil that defines a passageway and a plunger movable within the passageway from a retracted position to an extended position. The plunger extends along an axis between a first plunger end and an opposite second plunger end. A frame holds the solenoid and has a first opening through which the first plunger end extends when the plunger is in the retracted position and a second opening through second end of the plunger extends when the plunger is in the extended position. When the plunger is in the extended position the first plunger end retracts into the frame via the first opening.

A method is for operating a valve that includes a linearly movable control slide, at least one solenoid, and a position sensor. The linearly movable control slide is preloaded by at least one spring in a direction of a zero position. The at least one solenoid is coupled to the control slide in such a way that the control slide can be moved away from the zero position by application of current to the solenoid. The position sensor is configured to measure an actual instantaneous position of the control slide. Each solenoid is assigned a current control device configured to influence a current through the relevant solenoid based on an instantaneous current control variable. The instantaneous current control variable is dependent on a quasi-periodic dither current control variable. The method also includes calculating an actual dither amplitude from the actual instantaneous position using a band-pass filter.

A system for applying an agricultural product includes at least one control valve. For instance, the control valve has a moveable valve operator. One or more sensors monitor one or more control valve characteristics. A valve controller is configured to determine the control valve is in one or more of a primed state or an unprimed state based on a comparison of the one or more control valve characteristics to a primed valve characteristic threshold.

A fluid dispensing device and method for controlling the device are provided. The device includes a housing defining a fluid outlet. A valve controls the flow of fluid to the outlet. A sensor is configured to detect an object outside of and proximate to the housing. A solenoid is configured to move the valve between an open position and a closed position. A controller is configured to receive the output signal of the sensor, determine a characteristic of noise in the output signal such as a level of noise, adjust at least one of a sampling rate of the output signal and an amount of filtering of the output signal responsive to the characteristic of noise in the output signal, and transmit a control signal to the solenoid responsive to the output signal.